The African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have announced the deferment of the 2020 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to 2021 in the light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The decision to suspend the 7th edition of the main awards ceremony which had been scheduled to hold over five days in Nigeria between December 2 and December 6, 2020, was revealed on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, and it was reached after several months of monitoring the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and careful consultations with AFRIMA Stakeholders on the continent and around the globe.

The African Union Commission and AFRIMA further state that the cancellation brings with it great opportunities for future awards planning and preparation by utilizing the digital platforms and gains the new normal has thrust upon the world of concerts, conferences, and festivals, some of the activities which make up the annual AFRIMA event calendar.

The health and safety of the community of AFRIMA stakeholders are of utmost importance to the organizers.

Many of the awards nominees and delegates travel from different parts of the continent and from other parts of the globe to Africa each edition and fully understanding the risks involved with such movements, the suspension of the 2020 edition of AFRIMA is the only prudent course for the organizers.

The Committee is focusing all of its efforts on making their future events even better.

Read Press statement below:

We would like to thank all our stakeholders and partners for their support, open discussions and encouragement.

We will continue to work with every one of you and share more information about our plans for the coming year which has been declared by the Policy Organs of the African Union as the year of Arts, Culture and Heritage and will be celebrated under the theme ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building Africa We Want’.

The All Africa Music Awards being a music property that recognises and rewards the work and talent of a myriad of African artistes from the old to the new generation of musicians will without doubt fully contribute to the AU year of arts, culture and heritage, through te promotion of the creative industries of music and audio-visual.

The continental awards, stimulates conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potential of the creative arts and it’s for significant contribution for social cohesion, national, regional and continental integration as well as sustainable development in Africa.

The annual AFRIMA main awards event is a five-day event, comprising live music, red carpet, social networking and unending entertainment. Events and activities include an all-night live concert show called the AFRIMA Music Village; the music industry business conference and exhibition called the _Africa Music Business Summit_;** the Host City Tour; and the live broadcast (TV and Online) Main Awards Ceremony where winners of the 23.9 karat gold plated AFRIMA trophy are awarded.